Every spring and fall, the fashion elite from all around the world congregates to review and critique the anticipated trends of the next season. The turnout is the most posh and exclusive crowd imaginable – only the aristocrats of fashion can merit an invitation. This past week, the Lincoln Center in New York City bustled excitedly with the altogether fabulous ambience that is known as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
After 17 years of utilizing the tents at Bryant Park as the home of Fashion Week, 2010 marked a new tradition. With close to 1,000 seats and ample room backstage, the Lincoln Center catered to the needs of Fashion Week attendees and unanimously served as an appropriate and visually aesthetic venue change.
In true Fashion Week style, Hollywood’s A-listers flew in from all over, eager to view the prestigious foretaste of the top designers’ Spring 2011 collections. Among the masses was Kelly Osbourne, who sat front row at the Tracy Reese show with Denise Richards, Jessica Zhor of Gossip Girl, Kanye West (who appeared at Rodarte) and, of course, ever-present fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker.
The top trends of the spring season? As a standout color, the always classy, always bold scarlet red made many appearances as a constant enabler of contrast, particularly in accessories. Appearing in the collections of Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Adam and Diane von Furstenburg, trend forecasters say red will be the it-color of the spring. Betsey Johnson, while showing a series of neon, poufy taffeta gowns, played up the nautical look as well. Daniel Vosovic’s 2011 line was an ode to clean-cut, bold lines, symmetry, military inspiration and concise color blocking.
Sunglasses reminiscent of John Lennon’s signature circular spectacles were also a common trend on several designers’ runways. Perhaps there will always be a certain demand for “It-Brit” fashion inspired by The Beatles so many years ago.
The standout runway show of the week, however, is without a doubt awarded to a designer who clearly understands how to dress a woman’s body. While using bright and bold reds, purples, oranges and blacks (as well as bold, striped patterns), Marc Jacobs exemplified the importance of femininity in the accessories department. Huge flowers adorned the shoulders, bosoms, heads and waists of models. Marc Jacobs received rave reviews for conceptual vision, design and flawless execution.
As the doors of the Lincoln Center finally closed and the celebs, designers and models made their way to the most exclusive after-parties, a feeling of optimism settled in the hearts of millions, whether they were physically present or watching the broadcasts via the Internet. With the promise of bold colors, huge flower accessories, and striped rugby to come for the spring, it seems that for fashion connoisseurs the future is so bright we’ll have to wear John Lennon-styled circle shades.
Photo credit: Marc Jacobs
